Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

Let's rewind a few days.

Deep within Luofeng Slope, the sun blazes fiercely.

The huge canopy of the sycamore tree shaded half of the valley, and sunlight filtered through the thick leaves, casting coin-sized patches of light on the ground.

Su Qing walked barefoot in circles under the tree.

One lap, two laps, three laps.

When they reached the tenth step, an invisible ripple appeared in the air.

boom.

Her forehead struck an invisible wall.

Su Qing rubbed her forehead and stepped back, plopping down on the protruding tree root, scratching her hair in frustration.

This wretched place is so bad that not even a bird can fly out.

Ever since she was reborn from the blood, she has been trapped under this sycamore tree.

The activity area is only within a radius of ten meters.

This ten-meter stretch is like a cage.

The worst part is that she has no idea what time it is or how that idiot Gu Xiang is doing.

The system, that jinx, said Gu Xiang's life hangs by a thread.

But now she can't even get out of this forest.

"You idiot, you better be tough."

Su Qing picked up a pebble and threw it hard at the invisible barrier.

The pebble bounced back and rolled to my feet.

My stomach growled at just the right moment.

Su Qing rubbed her empty stomach, missing the roast chicken from Zuixianju Restaurant in Shendu and the hot, salty noodles made by Gu Xiang.

I can't live like this anymore.

Just as Su Qing was wondering whether she should nibble on some sycamore bark to stave off hunger, the bushes in the distance suddenly began to sway.

A series of chaotic footsteps approached, accompanied by vulgar curses.

"What bad luck! I've been searching this lousy forest for three days and haven't found a single thing."

"Boss, there's a big tree up ahead, let's rest for a bit."

"Stop taking a break, my foot! If we can't find any valuable medicinal herbs, are we going to starve?"

Su Qing's ears twitched.

anyone?

She immediately stood up, straightened her slightly disheveled red dress, and looked warily in the direction from which the sound came.

The bushes were cleaved open by a rusty machete.

A dozen or so ragged, burly men emerged.

The leader was bald, with a string of bone beads around his neck and a spiked club in his hand, looking fierce and menacing.

These were the same band of robbers that Gu Xiang would later deal with.

The bald man spotted Su Qing under the tree at a glance.

Dressed in red, barefoot, with skin as white as snow.

In this desolate wilderness, the scene is incredibly impactful.

The bald man was stunned, and so were his henchmen.

Everyone gaped, their mouths agape, drool almost dripping down their faces.

"Goodness..."

The bald man rubbed his smooth forehead, his beady eyes gleaming with lewdness. "Brothers, have we struck gold? A stunning beauty out here in the middle of nowhere?"

"Boss, could this be a mountain demon?" A timid henchman shrank back.

"Fairies are better!"

The bald man chuckled, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. "I've never tasted what a fairy is like before! Look at this delicate skin, tsk tsk..."

The language was foul and offensive, and it was unbearable to hear.

Su Qing's face darkened.

She had originally hoped that this group of people could bring her some news or help her pass on a message.

In retrospect, they were a bunch of suicidal beasts.

"roll."

Su Qing coldly uttered a single word.

The sound wasn't loud, but it carried a chill.

The bald man was stunned by the insult, then flew into a rage: "Oh ho, pretty hot-tempered! You little wench, don't you even know who I am?! Brothers, get him! Capture him alive, we're having a good time tonight!"

A group of people rushed over, yelling.

Su Qing stood still.

She sneered inwardly.

There are restrictions around this phoenix tree, so even she, at the Casting Cauldron Realm, can't get out. If these mortals can get in, she'll just gnaw on the bark.

She crossed her arms, waiting to see the group of people get their heads smashed and bruised.

however.

The next moment, Su Qing's pupils suddenly contracted.

The bald man at the very front passed through the barrier without any hindrance!

Then came the second, the third...

The invisible wall that had trapped her for several days didn't even exist for this group of people!

"How is that possible?"

Su Qing cursed under her breath.

This damn restriction is discriminating?

Why can this bunch of trash get in, but she can't get out?

Just as the bald man's dirty hand was about to grab her shoulder, a hint of ferocity flashed in Su Qing's eyes.

Now that you're in, don't even think about leaving standing up.

"court death!"

Su Qing ducked down, avoiding the bald man's hand, and grabbed his wrist with her own.

She used the momentum against herself and tripped over her own feet.

boom!

The bald man's two-hundred-pound body slammed heavily onto the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Su Qing didn't stop.

She then stepped on the bald man's back, and with a "crack" sound, the bald man screamed and spat out a mouthful of blood.

The remaining henchmen were terrified.

How come this seemingly delicate young lady is fiercer than a tigress when she gets into a fight?

"Charge! All of you, charge! She's all alone!"

The bald man lay on the ground, roaring.

The henchmen, taking advantage of their numbers, surrounded them, brandishing knives, spears, and clubs.

Su Qing snorted coldly.

She moved like a ghost through the crowd.

Finger break, bone dislocation, groin kick, throat lock.

Every move was ruthless and targeted the vital points.

In less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea.

A pile of objects lay on the ground under the sycamore tree.

The cries of agony rose and fell, more lively than the slaughter of a pig during the Lunar New Year.

Su Qing dusted off her hands, stepped on the bald man's face, and looked down at him.

"Now, can we speak properly?"

His bald face was distorted from being stepped on, and his face was covered in snot and tears. He was no longer the arrogant person he had been just moments before.

"Heroine, spare me! Heroine, spare me! I was blind and didn't recognize your greatness!"

Su Qing stomped her feet down hard.

"Where is this?"

"Falling Phoenix Slope... This is deep within Falling Phoenix Slope!"

Sure enough, this is the place.

Su Qing felt more confident.

"What era is it now? Is the Great Zhou Dynasty still around?"

When she asked this question, Su Qing's palms were slightly sweaty.

She was afraid of hearing bad news.

"Yes! Yes!" The bald man nodded hurriedly. "The Great Zhou is doing very well! It's a peaceful and prosperous era, a time of national peace and prosperity!"

Su Qing breathed a sigh of relief.

The fact that the Great Zhou Dynasty still exists means that Gu Xiang is not completely dead.

"Then... what about Gu Xiang?"

Su Qing's voice was a little tense, "Do you know Gu Xiang?"

"Gu Xiang?"

The bald man paused for a moment, then his eyes widened as if he had heard some incredible name.

"Are you referring to the current Prime Minister, Prime Minister Gu?"

Prime Minister?

Su Qing was stunned.

That poor scholar who only knew how to study and couldn't even bear to watch a chicken being killed became the prime minister?

"How is he now?"

"Prime Minister Gu is a celestial being, a reincarnation of the God of Literature!"

The bald man forgot his pain when he mentioned the name, his tone full of awe, "In recent years, Prime Minister Gu has rectified officialdom and quelled the demonic disturbances. He is our Great Zhou's upright and just official! I heard that he not only manages national affairs but also punishes the wicked. Even the gods are afraid of him!"

As Su Qing listened, a smile involuntarily crept onto her lips.

As I laughed, my eyes started to sting.

That idiot.

They really did it.

To establish a moral compass for heaven and earth, and to establish a destiny for the people.

He did not betray that intelligent and perceptive heart, nor did he betray her life.

"Since he's the prime minister, where is he now? In the capital?"

"It should be in the capital city..." the bald man said uncertainly. "How would we know the whereabouts of such an important person?"

Su Qing fell silent.

She was at Luofengpo, while Guxiang was in the capital.

They are thousands of miles apart.

She couldn't get out, and Gu Xiang didn't know she was there.

How can I let him know I'm back?

Sending these bandits to deliver the message?

Do not make jokes.

This group of people couldn't even get through the county government office, let alone see the prime minister.

He probably got kicked out as a madman as soon as he opened his mouth to say he had met Su Qing.

We need to think of a way.

A way to get Gu Xiang to come to us on her own initiative.

Su Qing's gaze fell on the bald man's fleshy face, and a flash of inspiration struck her.

Gu Xiang is a man who cherishes the past.

They are also the most vengeful.

Some things are etched into his bones, and they will react violently at the slightest touch.

"Do you guys have names?" Su Qing suddenly asked.

"No...no name, we just hang out together to make a living," the bald man answered honestly.

"From today onwards, you have names."

Su Qing withdrew her foot, took a step back, leaned against the trunk of the sycamore tree, and a playful smile appeared on her face.

"It's called Black Wind Stronghold."

"Huh?" The bald man was stunned. "Black...Black Wind Stronghold?"

Why does this name sound so rustic, yet somehow familiar?

"Yes, let's call it Black Wind Stronghold."

Su Qing pointed at the bald man, "You're the leader. Take your brothers and set up a stronghold on the outskirts of Luofeng Slope. Put up the banners, and make the words big so that everyone passing by can see them."

"This..." The bald man hesitated, "Heroine, is there any significance to this name?"

"Stop talking nonsense."

Su Qing's face darkened, and a terrifying killing intent instantly enveloped the entire area.

Although he had no cultivation, the quasi-emperor-like pressure emanating from the depths of his soul was enough to terrify these mortals.

"Scream! Not only should you scream, but you should make a huge commotion!"

Su Qing narrowed her eyes, her tone icy, "Go and let everyone within a hundred miles know that there's a Black Wind Stronghold at Falling Phoenix Slope! But..."

She abruptly changed the subject, her eyes flashing like knives.

"If I find out that you dare to harm the nearby villagers, dare to take the lives of innocent people..."

Su Qing picked up a stone from the ground and squeezed it with her five fingers.

Click.

The hard stone turned to dust in her palm and fell away in a flurry.

"This is what happens."

"Did you understand?"

The bald man trembled with fear, felt a heat in his crotch, and urinated again.

"Understood! Understood! We only rob, we won't kill! We absolutely won't harm a single hair on the heads of ordinary people!"

"Get lost."

Su Qing waved her hand dismissively.

Baldy felt like he'd been granted a pardon and led his men to scramble and crawl away.

Halfway through the run, he stopped again, cautiously turning back to ask, "Heroine, what if... what if we run into a tough opponent?"

"Have you run into a tough opponent?"

Su Qing smiled.

She looked up towards the direction of the capital, her gaze distant.

"If one were to encounter a scholar in a blue robe, with a refined appearance and a penchant for reasoning..."

"Tell him that the leader of Black Wind Stronghold is waiting for him under the paulownia tree."

The bald man didn't understand, but he didn't dare to ask any more questions. He led his men and disappeared in a flash.

Quiet returned to the valley.

Su Qing slid down and sat down against the tree trunk.

She looked at the dappled shadows of the trees overhead and exhaled a long breath.

Black Wind Village.

That's where their story began.

If Gu Xiang heard this name, if he still remembered every little detail from back then.

He will definitely come.

Even if it's just to wipe out this bandit den that disgusts him, he will definitely come.

As long as he comes.

Then you can see this sycamore tree.

Then you'll see... her.

Su Qing closed her eyes, a smile playing on her lips.

fool.

I released the bait.

Please don't keep me waiting too long.

The wind rustled through the treetops, making the sycamore leaves whisper in the breeze.

It sounded like whispers, or like calls to each other.

"Su Mu Zhe - Wutong Kun"

Azure sky, yellow leaves on the ground.

Confined within the phoenix tree, the mountains and rivers crumble at sunset.

Suddenly a violent man startled me from my afternoon nap.

Laughing, I ask, "Who dares to trespass into this land of longing?"

Rebuke the demons and convey the message.

I borrow your lowly name to summon the memory of this foolish child.

Don't say there's nowhere to avoid a reunion.

Beneath the tree, a woman in red awaits your arrival.